United Kingdom
United States
Asia Pacific
MH17 tragedy was ‘gross mass murder’
A coroner has described the shooting down of Malaysian Airlines’ flight MH17 as a ‘gross mass murder’ during an inquest in which the families of the victims were sown a graphic reconstruction of how the aircraft was blown up.
Dutch air crash investigators created the video to simulate the last moments of the flight as it was shot down by a Russian missile over Ukraine in 2014 as it travelled from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur.
.
Of the 298 people on board who died, 38 were Australian so an inquest into their deaths has opened in New South Wales.
NSW state coroner Michael Barnes said: "Coroners do not make findings of criminal guilt but it would be pointless sophistry not to acknowledge that these deaths were part of a gross mass murder."
The video shown at the inquest, attended by the families of six o the victims, demonstrates how the missile exploded close to the cockpit, killing the pilots and breaking off the front of the aircraft.~It sent fragments into the plane, which were later found in the bodies of the crew.
The inquest heard that all passengers died or lost consciousness ‘shortly after the aircraft was struck’.~
A Dutch investigation revealed that the missile contained a warhead made in Russia
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
Walt Leger on New Orleans’ Resilience and Major Events Ahead
Cindy Mackin Shares Estes Park’s Winter Thrills
Mark Jaronski of Explore Georgia on FIFA World Cup 2026
Connecting Small Businesses to Global Tourism Markets: Nate Huff of Tourism Exchange
North Carolina’s Resilience: Wit Tuttell on Recovery and Tourism
Kittipong Prapattong’s Plan for Thailand’s Tourism Growth: Taxes, Visas, and Campaigns
James Jin: Didatravel’s Journey from China to Global Reach and the Impact of AI on Travel
Darien Schaefer on Pensacola’s Evolution: From Small Town to Global Destination
Florida Tourism’s Next Frontier: Dana Young on Expanding Beyond the Classics
Patrick Harrison on Tampa Bay Tourism’s Resilience and Marketing Strategy
Bubba O’Keefe on Clarksdale’s Vibrant Music Scene
Commemorating Elvis and Embracing Tupelo’s Culture with Jennie Bradford Curlee
BA suspending all Heathrow to Abu Dhabi flights
Unexpected wave rocks cruise ship
Woman dies after going overboard in English Channel
Report: Cruise guest died after ship lashed in heavy storm
British teen in serious condition after paraglider collision